Bowling ball return device



Sept. 1, 1970 G. w. HIBBS 3,525,402

. BOWLING BALL RETURN DEVICE Filed March 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6wry/me GEORGE w. mass.

p 1970 G. w. HIBBS 3,526,402

BOWLING BALL RETURN DEVICE Filed March 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheot 2 //VI/VI'0. GEORGE W. H [BBS WMZM United States Patent 3,526,402 BOWLING BALLRETURN DEVICE George W. Hibbs, 631 Clearview Ave., Trevose, Pa. 19047Filed Mar. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 715,341 Int. Cl. A63d /02 U.S. Cl. 273-493 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A motor driven tire carried on aframe supported on the catwalk board above the bowling ball returntrack, the tire traction surface extending downward to normally engagethe upper surface of the bowling ball as the latter returns along thetrack from the pit end to the head end of the alley to accelerate thereturn speed. Combination hold down and jacking means selectively lockthe frame down to the catwalk board for ball driving engagement orelevate the frame to prevent engagement of the tire with the bowlingballs, and leveling means adjust the degree of engagement between thetire and ball.

This invention relates generally to bowling ball fast return mechanismsassociated with the ball return runway of a bowling alley and operativeto rapidly return a bowling ball from the pit end of the bowling alleyto the head end of the alley, the return mechanism being usable witheither manual return alleys or with automatic pin setting machine.

Bowling ball fast return mechanisms are not per so new, but such knowndevices are generally incorporated into a ball return system in suchmanner that in the event of a breakdown or jamming of the bowling ballfast return device the return runway is rendered inoperative and thealley or alleys served by it must be taken out of service until arepairman is available to repair the breakdown. The fast ball returnsystem according to the present invention is not so limited, in that,while itself being a very simple device not normally subject tobreakdown or jamming, nevertheless, in the event that such should occur,the mechanism is so constructed that it may be immediately shifted fromthe path of ball return so as to occupy a non-engaging position asregards a bowling ball returning along the trackway. Consequently, nobowling alley need be taken out of service because of any malfunction inthe fast return system.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a novelbowling ball fast return device of simple mechanical configuration whichmay quickly and easily be installed into existing bowling ball returnrunway equipment in such manner that it may readily be adjusted to aposition of non-engagement with a returning bowling ball in the event ofa malfunction of the fast return device and thereby completely eliminateout-of-service time for any bowling alley with which it is used.

Another object of this invention to provide a novel bowling ball returndevice as aforesaid which includes means for adjusting the degree ofengagement between a bowling ball and the fast return mechanism toprovide an effective range of control over the return speed of thebowling ball.

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A further object of this invention is to provide a novel bowling ballreturn device as aforesaid which includes a leveling mechanism operativeto insure that the fast ball return device engages the bowling ball atthe right point on the periphery of the latter.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become clear froma reading of the following specification in conjunction with anexamination of the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fast ball return device shownassociated with a portion of the ball return runway of a bowling alley;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus according to theinvention illustrating a bowling ball in operative engagement with theball return mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the cover of the apparatusaccording to the invention looking down at the interior mechanism aswould be seen when viewed along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus as would be seen whenviewed along the line 44 of FIG. 2, with a superimposed phantom showingof the apparatus when in elevated position for non-engagement with thebowling ball;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to that shown in FIG. 2excepting that the apparatus is seen in disengaged positioncorresponding to the phantom showing of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of the apparatus as would be seen in end elevation whenviewed from the head end of the alley; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of some of the parts of theapparatus according to the invention with the bowling ball drivingcomponents removed.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like referencecharacters.

Referring now to the drawings, the bowling ball fast return device isdesignated generally as 10 and includes a frame 11 to which are mountedthe operative parts of the return mechanism and a cover 12. The frame 11is in the form of a U-shaped member having side legs 13 connectedtogether at one end by a bridging leg 14 from which project a pair ofstuds 15, the bridging leg 14 being pivotally connected by means of ahinge 16 to a catwalk board 17 which overlies a portion of the returntrack 18 at the pin pit end of the alley. The catwalk board 17 iscradled proximate to its opposite ends by a pair of saddle brackets 19each having outwardly turned slotted upper cars 20 supported invertically adjusted positions by nuts 21 on vertically extendingthreaded studs 22 which latter are rigidly secured to support posts 23.

Affixed to the frame side legs 13 near the free swinging end are a pairof pillow blocks 24 within which is journalled for rotation a shaft 25having mounted thereupon a deformable tire 26, one end of the shaft 25having fixedly secured thereto for rotation therewith a pulley 27 aboutwhich is trained a drive belt 28 which is also trained about a secondpulley 29 fixed upon the shaft 30 of an electric motor 31. The electricmotor 31 is journalled in a support bracket 32 which is eccentricallyconnected to a pivot bar 33 journalled for swinging movement in supports34 which latter are fixedly secured to the side 3 legs 13 of the frame11. The off center location of the motor 31 with respect to its pivotbar 33 maintains tension on the drive belt 28. The catwalk board 17 issuitably cut out at 35 and 36 to allow free clearance for the tire 26and the pulley 27. A junction box 37 secured tothe frame 11 adjacent tothe bridging leg 14 provides a source of electric power for the motor 31from an electric supply line 38 and an electric control line 39connected to any suitable means for controlling energization anddeenergization of the motor 31.

The free ends of the side legs 13 of the frame 11 are fixedly secured toa rigid plate 40, as for example by welding, and an ear 41 is turned-upout of the body of the plate 40 to provide a bolting securement for thecover 12. The wall 42 of the cover 12 is apertured proximate the bottomcorners as at 43 to receive therethrough the studs 15 extending from thebridging leg 14, while the opposite end Wall 44 of cover 12 is providedwith a bolt hole 45 through which is projected a securing bolt 46threaded into the ear 41 of the plate 40 to thereby lock the cover tothe frame 11. The cover 12 is of course removable by merely unscrewingthe bolt 46 and pivoting the cover up and disengaging the frame studs 15from the cover apertures 43.

From the showing of FIG. 7 it is clear that the frame 11 and all of thedriving apparatus carried thereby is only secured to the catwalk boardby the hinge 16, and if not secured at the other end in some mannerwould tend to bounce when the tire 26 were engaged by a bowling ball 47,as for example shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The operation of the ball returndevice would be at best erratic and certainly unreliable. This problemis overcome by means of a combination hold down and jack device whichacts in conjunction with the rigid plate 40 to lock the frame 11 to thecatwalk board 17 as shown for example in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, whileproviding the function of a jacking device as shown in FIG. to raise theframe 11 and the driving mechanism to a point where the tire 26 cannotengage a bOWling ball riding thereunder down the return track toward thehead end of the alley. This jacking feature is of course very importantin the event of an electrical or mechanical breakdown of the ball returnmechanism because it provides the means for quickly effectively removingthe return device 10 from operative engagement with the bowling ball sothat the normal gravity return system may still be operative to therebykeep the alleys in service until such time as the return device canreceive the attention of a repairman.

The combination hold down and jacking device includes a threaded stud 48extending vertically with its shank projecting upward through thecatwalk board and secured to the board by means of a washer 48 and nut50. Seated flatwise upon the upper surface of the nut 50 by projectionof the stud shank through a hole punched therethrough is thelocking-jacking plate 51 having a turned down locking edge 52 at one endand a turned up jacking edge 53 at the opposite end. Threaded down ontothe shank of the stud 48 in overlying clamping relationship to thelocking-jacking plate 51 is a Wing nut 54. Since the plate 51 is freelyswingable about the stud shank when the wing nut 54 is released, it isclear that either the locking edge 52 or the jacking edge 53 may beplaced in operative position with respect to the rigid plate 40 afiixedto the frame 11.

With the locking edge 52 overlying the plate 40 and the wing nut 54threaded down tightly onto the shank of the stud 48, the plate 51 locksthe frame 11 to the catwalk board 17 so that the tire 26 may beoperatively engaged with the bowling ball as the latter moves down thereturn track 18. Should it become desirable to remove the return device10 from operative service it is only necessary to release the wing nut54, turn the lockingjacking plate 51 through about ninety degrees toclear the locking edge 52 from above the plate 40, lift the returndevice 10 and swing the locking-jacking plate 51 4 through an additionalninety degrees to bring the jacking edge 53 beneath the plate 40, andfinally, retighten the wing nut 54.

The cover 12 is of course attachable and removable from the frame 11regardless of whether the return device 10 is in its locked down orelevated position. Finally, the degree of engagement between the drivingtire 26 and the bowling ball 47 is completely controllable by adjustmentof the elevation of the saddle brackets 19 on the threaded studs 22.

Having now described my invention in connection with a particularlyillustrated embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated thatmodifications and variations of my invention may now occur from time totime to those persons normally skilled in the art without departing fromthe essential scope or spirit of my invention, and accordingly, it isintended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicatedby the appended claims.

What is claimed to be new and useful:

1. A bowling ball fast return device comprising in combination,

(a) a catwalk board suspended above the bowling ball return track at thepit end of the bowling alley, a frame secured to and supported on saidcatwalk board, a motor driven tire carried on said frame said tirehaving a traction surface extending downward to normally engage aportion of the upper surface of a bowling ball as the latter returnsalong the track from the pit end to the head end of the alley toaccelerate the return speed of the ball,

(b) combination hold-down and jacking means selectively operablerespectively to lock the said frame down to the catwalk board for balldriving engage ment and to maintain the said tire elevated to a heightsufiicient to prevent engagement of said tire with bowling balls passingtherebeneath, and

(c) leveling means supporting said catwalk board operative to adjust thedegree of engagement between said tire and a bowling ball.

2. A bowling ball fast return device as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid frame is hingedly secured at one end to said catwalk board andwherein said hold-down and jacking means is anchored to said catwalkboard proximate to one side of said frame which is opposite the hingedsecurement of said frame to said catwalk board, said hold-down meansbeing shiftable into overlying relation to said frame one side andclampable downward thereon to effect locking of the frame to the board,said hold down means being releasable and shiftable to clear away fromsaid frame one side whereby to permit elevation of said frame from saidcatwalk board about the hinged seourement, and said jacking means beingshiftable under said frame to support the latter in its elevatedposition.

3. A bowling ball fast return device installable above the return trackof a bowling alley for accelerating the return of a bowling ball fromthe pit and to the head end of the bowling alley, comprising incombination,

(a) a ball drive member having a drive surface engageable with a portionof the upper surface of a bowling ball,

(b) selectively operable power means coupled to said ball drive membereffective when operated to move the said drive surface in the samedirection as and at a speed substantially higher than the normal surfacespeed of a bowling ball moving along the return track toward the headend of the bowling alley,

(c) selectively operable means operatively coupled to said ball drivemember effective to adjust the degree of surface engagement between saidball drive memher and a bowling ball moving along the return track andto effect correct orientation of the axis of rotation of said ball drivemember in relation to the axis of rotation of said bowling ball, saidlast mentioned means including (1) a supporting platform for said balldrive member and power means spaced vertically above said return trackand having a slot therein through which said ball drive memberdownwardly projects for engagement with a bowling ball moving along saidtrack,

(2) vertically extending jack screw means disposed in longitudinallyspaced relation alongside opposite sides of said platform adjacent theing said ball drive member in correctly oriented position relatively tothe bowling ball engaged thereby, said last-mentioned means beingfurther operative to completely release said ball drive member fromdriving engagement with said bowling ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS fore and aft j and 10 2,470,0525/1949 Rundell et a1. 273-49 (3) means for ad usting the elevation ofsaid plat- 3,206,199 9/1965 Anderson 273 49 form relatively to saidtrack at each of the points 3,425,691 2/1969 Lenhart 273 49 ofsecurement of said platform to said jack screw means for leveling saidplatform and so present- ANTON O- OECHSLE, Primary Examiner

